Bay Ridge’s long-running Art Walk series continued its community-spirit on March 21, as residents gathered along Third Avenue for the 14th installment. Titled “Embrace Winter,” this neighborhood tradition has celebrated local creativity for over a decade.
The event, organized by the Bay Ridge Community Council for the Arts and Culture (BRCCA), invited attendees to explore a curated stretch of Third Avenue, where artists displayed their work in storefronts and public spaces. Participants met at noon at Cosentino’s Fish Market to begin the walk, which cost $20 and included opportunities to hear directly from artists about their pieces.
“This festival, ‘Embrace Winter,’ is now in its 14th year,” Victoria Hofmo, founder of the BRCCA Art and Cultural Alliance, said. “We’ve hosted several events throughout the season, and this is our final one. Today we’re here celebrating art, culture and community all coming together.”
Throughout the afternoon, participants moved from stop to stop, engaging with artists who shared the inspiration behind their work. The walk emphasized not only visual art, but also storytelling — a hallmark of the series since its inception.
For Hofmo, the roots of the event are humble.
“The Art Walk started in a simple way,” she said. “There was a small sewing space opening up, and the idea was to put some fashion illustrations on display. Around the same time, a friend was cooking from home, and we talked about adding recipes and reflections on how we live our lives. That’s what really drew me in — bringing art, food and storytelling together.”
That spirit remained evident in this year’s Art Walk showcase. One installation at Cosentino’s tied into the upcoming Norwegian Day Parade on May 17.
“This year’s [parade] theme, ‘The Legacy Continues,’ made me think about the deep Scandinavian roots here in Bay Ridge,” Hofmo said about her work at Cosentino’s.
